Peking University, March 30, 2018: The opening ceremony of King Abdulaziz Public Library Peking University Branch was held in Peking University On March 30. Peking University Branch is the first branch of King Abdulaziz Public Library in non-Arab region.
Lin Jianhua, president of Peking University, said at the opening ceremony that the PKU branch aimed to promote the academic, cultural exchanges between China and Saudi Arabia. The branch will facilitate Arabic teaching in Chinese universities and research of Chinese language and literature in Saudi universities, as well as deepen mutual understandings and cooperation. Besides, he remarked that Peking University is promoting research in the specific countries and regions, and the branch will help the research of Arab region. Peking University will celebrate its 120th anniversary this year. It is hoped that the branch will serve as a bridge for promoting cultural exchanges between China and Arab region.
Located in the center of cultural relics area of Weiming Lake, King Abdulaziz Public Library Peking University Branch is a six-story building, covering an area of approximately 13,000 square meters and containing a modern library, an Arab research as well as an exhibition center.
King Abdulaziz Public Library Supervisor-General Faisal al-Muaammar said that during a visit to China more than a decade ago, Saudi officials found that the Arabic textbooks used by Chinese college students were shabby. Therefore, the idea of setting up a branch of King Abdulaziz Public Library in China was initiated. With the great efforts from both sides, the branch was formally completed at Peking University in March last year. At the time, the Saudi King Salman, who was on a state visit to China, attended the inauguration ceremony. “We hope that the branch can promote exchanges between Arab Islamic and Chinese civilization, deepen the friendship between Saudi Arabia and China, as well as promoting cultural exchanges between Arab countries and China,” said Muaammar.
After the opening ceremony, the King Abdulaziz Public Library Peking University Branch opened its doors to the public. At the same time, the “Oriental Wisdom——Sino-Saudi Arabia Calligraphy Culture Exhibition” was held open to the public for four months.
Reported by: Qian Kang
Edited by: Zhang Jiang
